Household oven doors - A burn hazard in children

Contact with hot oven doors is an important cause of burns in pediatric pat ients. These burns are of particular concern because of their frequent loca lization to the hands, with the resulting negative implications for financi al cost, long-term cosmesis, and hand function. A 5-year review of pediatri c oven door burn cases admitted to a burn referral center was conducted. Of the 14 cases identified, the median age was 12 months. The median total bo dy surface area (TBSA) was 1.75% (range, 0.5%3.5%). Twelve of 14 cases invo lved 1 or both hands. The median length of hospital stay was 10 days. In 7 cases, burns were sustained from contact to an external surface of the oven . Based on the results obtained, we propose several prevention strategies.